The Battle of Sharpsburg Maryland (aka. Antietam Creek) Thanks for downloading my game pack. I hope that you enjoy playing this group of scenarios! NOTES FOR BEGINNERS: The .zip contains the battle of Sharpsburg with custom map, order of battle files and custom scenarios. When you want to play Sharpsburg, simply open the zip to a copy of the Sid Meier's Gettysburg folder, with "overwrite files" & "use folder names" checked, and the scenario will overwrite the existing files. Run Lee.exe If no troops appear in the "Sharpsburg: The bloodiest day" scenario, install the 3rd patch for SMG. ****** Please e-mail comments or constructive criticisms to JilEpot@AOL.com History of this game: Having owned the Sid Meier's Gettysburg! game for almost a year, I was totally in the dark about web sites dedicated to the game (even though I knew of the main Firaxis website), and to be quite honest, was growing rather bored of the same old 24 scenarios. Then I finally decided to hop on the net to check out the Firaxis site, and wound up linked to so many sites with scenarios that I was astounded! I believe that I have played just about every scenario written to date (as of 01-12-99) and must say that all were very enjoyable. But, then I delved into the custom scenario packs such as Sabine River, Prairie Grove and the Italian Independence War scenario Solferino. Being just a simple computer hack these astounded me, regarding the overall capabilities of the Sid Meier's game engine. I decided to make this game scenario since none previously existed!!! Although there were scenarios in place for the battle of Sharpsburg, they were played on the Gettysburg map. The map itself is generated from six books based on the battle of Sharpsburg (one of them being a modern tour guide), which included overview maps, paintings and sketches by journalists and soldiers who were at the fight. In addition I used photographs taken at the actual battle park. I hope that my map is somewhat similar to that of the actual field! Thanks again for downloading it. Tim Schrage Thank you to: John Junker for test playing the scenario and J. Hill for back and forth dialogue during the creation of this game. Also thanks to Peter S (aka GrecoRoman) for his inspiring Prairie Grove scenario (I cant wait for Shiloh, Peter!), and my wife Jill for her help with the map. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A very brief history of the contest: ( I would highly recommend reading the Time Life Civil War Series book: "The Bloodiest Day", they do a fantastic job of covering the battle in easy to follow formats). Sharpsburg Maryland: Wednesday Sept 17th 1862 This battle was the culmination of Confederate General Robert E Lee's Maryland campaign. After the union victory at South Mountain, Maryland and the Confederate victory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, opposing forces gathered at the field of Sharpsburg, beginning on Monday the 15th. Lee's army was widely spread on the 15th (equalling no more than 15,000 troops on the field) while his opponent Union General George McClellan had approximately 70,000 troops at his disposal. Lee and his forces reached the field first and claimed the higher ground west and north west of the Antietam creek. (The contour of the area generally sloped from the creek with the high ground located where his troops now were). Even with Lee holding the high ground, McClellan nearly outnumbered him 7 to 1, but chose to "set-up a battle plan". As a result it was two days until the battle began, in which time Lee was reinforced. On the morning of the 17th the Confederate army disposition was generally facing north and east, while the Union army was facing generally west. McClellan's attack plan was an echelon assault, with emphasis on the Confederate left. The battle can easily be broken down into three phases; the Union assault on the Confederate left, the center and the right respectively. (See scenario briefs below). At the end of the day, nearly 25,000 American troops (Union and Confederate) lay dead or wounded and the battle was tactically a draw. Strategically however, the Confederates were forced to withdraw. The implications of the Union "victory" were enormous. At the time, Britain and France were both ready to "recognize" the Confederate States of America as a "legal" country, an act that could have carried enormous potential to the Confederacy's independence bid. In addition, the sorely needed Union victory was used as a platform by President Abraham Lincoln, to draft the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves in territories held by the Confederacy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.) Sharpsburg: The bloodiest day: This scenario reconstructs the battle piece by piece. Generally following the scenarios in order as listed below. (Of course many things can change, but units will remain frozen on both sides until the appropriate time). Suggested for multi-player usage. 2.) Fight for the Dunker Church: This scenario reconstructs the Union assault of the Confederate left (under Stonewall Jackson). And includes; Hooker's Corps, Mansfield's Corps and elements of Sumner's Corps. 3.) Sunken Road: Reconstructs French's and Richardson's divisions in their assaults on DH Hill's and RH Anderson's divisions at the Confederate center. In the game, there are distinct advantages for the Confederate side. This is due to the fact that trenches are not part of the game (you will notice that the ground in front of the "sunken road" is actually much lower in level. This helps simulate the excellent defensive position the Confederates had. (In the Gettysburg game, there is a distinct advantage to firing down hill). In addition, more reinforcements are available than the historical battle. This helps set off the enormous superiority in man power that the Union has. In test playing the scenario, if the Confederates do not receive this advantage, the Union can simply pummel their way easily through the lines by sheer force of numbers. Next, the actual opening attack by Union general Weber, is further west than historic (again to offset numbers). They attack Colquitt's frozen brigade mostly, bringing them into the battle sooner. Finally, Union reinforcements are more spread out on their field arrival times. PLEASE NOTE if playing the Union side, there is a brief delay until Weber appears to begin battle, in order to give the Confederates some entrenching time. 4.) Burnside's Bridge: Re-creates the unwise attempt to cross an entire corps over a small bridge with the enemy hugging the opposite side, on high, wooded ground. The entry time of Rodman's division and Ewing's brigade, may seem extreme, but every time I've test played the scenario, they surge up to "the Heights" in the nick of time. 5.) The Assault!: Picks up after Burnside's Bridge, with the Union steamroller pressing hard towards the town of Sharpsburg. If you find the scenario too easy as the Confederate player, change Lovell, Buchanan, Ferrero and Nagle's brigades from frozen to active. In multiple test playing the Confederates had a rough time of it, with only their initial artillery barely holding the line until A.P. Hill's arrival. ******************************************************************* Version 2 19 March 2009 New buildings, sunken road, corn and listmap graphics have been added and some editing of the map, OBs and scenarios. The names and textures for Corn & Wheat have been swapped so that "Corn" now conceals troops. The 4 smaller scenarios can be played as a series to get an overall score - "Play Antietam/Sharpsburg as a Series" & choose next scenario at the end of each. The opening videos are replaced with very short ones. Version 2.1 8 August 2010 Pink Line from frame of terrain type in command bar fixed in terrbig.pcx. Opening screens & small introductory animations have been added. Some editing of OoB & scenarios. Piper's Barn & more named sites have been added for random game use. 13 April 2011 Palette for Scenario List Map changed to suit XP & latter Windows Colours. Graeme http://smgettysburg.webs.com/SMG.htm